Critics Split on The Bear Finale as 2 Michelin Stars Stir Fresh Debate
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 27
Critics Split on The Bear Finale as 2 Michelin Stars Stir Fresh Debate
2 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jun 27
Summary
Angie Han and Daniel Fienberg sharply diverged on FX/Hulu’s The Bear finale, with Han calling it a satisfying epilogue and Fienberg arguing the extra episode was unnecessary and even irritating.
The split centered on the finale’s biggest reveal — The Bear earns 2 Michelin stars — plus its choice to confirm relationships and emotional resolutions that Fienberg said viewers could already infer.
Han said the episode worked as a gentle sendoff after a season focused on a single brutal shift, though she questioned ending on Richie rather than Sydney and said Carmy’s angst had run its course.
Fienberg argued the finale undercut the show’s earlier skepticism about prestige and fine dining, pointing to a stated $190 dinner price, shrinking portions and a broader drift away from the food-driven appeal of early seasons.
Both critics still praised the ensemble, especially Ayo Edebiri, while suggesting the series may have already delivered what it had to say before the final hour.